Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) announces a new
collaboration with Global Pharmaceutical Supply Group (GPSG), a
unit of Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, a Johnson & Johnson
company that will enable a select group of students to receive a
paid internship at a J&J company while they are pursing a
certificate in Automated Manufacturing Technology from the
College.

To learn more about the program, prospective students are
invited to attend an Open House Monday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m. The
Open House will be held in The Conference Center (Conference Room
A) at the College?s North Branch Campus.

The new pilot program, which will begin in July, will train
people to work as packaging associates in the manufacture of
pharmaceutical and biologic products while they pursue a
Certificate in Automated Manufacturing Technology from RVCC.
Qualified students will be employed as paid interns with GPSG,
while they pursue a college certificate at RVCC. In order to
qualify for the program, students must demonstrate
college-readiness skills in English, reading and math.

The program will include ?hands on? experience on one of the
many production lines at the GPSG Raritan plant, as well as
classroom courses that will provide students with the essential
knowledge of the basics of computer skills, manufacturing
automation, industry regulatory requirements, industrial math and
measures, and problem solving. Participants will be given time off
from their regular work week to take classes, and GPSG will cover
all costs. Classes will be held at RVCC?s North Branch Campus.

The program involves two phases. First, students will complete a
12-credit apprenticeship program in a six-month period. After that,
they will matriculate into the Automated Manufacturing Technology
Certificate program and complete an additional 18 credits of
classroom instruction in approximately six to eight months.

The pilot program was born out of a collaborative effort between
RVCC and GPSG in 2006 to address the need for developing talent in
specific technical knowledge and skills required to operate
technological and sophisticated manufacturing equipment. GPSG
identified core competencies required for associates to achieve
high performance levels that will lead to a highly skilled and
productive workforce.

For additional information about the new program or the Open
House, contact Nancy Jordan, 908-526-1200, ext. 8278
(njordan@raritanval.edu); Alberta Jaeger, 908-526-1200, ext. 8335
(ajaeger@raritanval.edu); or Henry Passarotti, 908-281-6371
(hpassaro@gpsus.jnj.com).

RVCC, located on Route 28 and Lamington Road in North Branch,
NJ, and serving Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for close
to 40 years, offers more than 80 associate degrees and
certificates. In addition, customized training programs and
non-credit courses are available for those seeking personal and
professional development.

The College is committed to offering a quality and affordable
education through effective teaching, liaisons with the community?s
businesses and state-of-the-art technology. For further
information, visit
www.raritanval.edu
.